Great book as it discusses how Emmett was 'destined' to be an actor from the moment he entered the theater for the first time to see Disney's "The JunGreat book as it discusses how Emmett was 'destined' to be an actor from the moment he entered the theater for the first time to see Disney's "The Jungle Book". He then takes us through the movies that had the most effect in his life as a member of the audience and the schemes to get himself noticed and finally running away to the US and eventually landing a role in the Titanic. While he hasn't reach ultimate success as an A-list actor he is comfortable in the fact that he is on the right path which is more than I can say for 99% of the population....more

You have to really, really love music AND rock AND heavy metal and hair bands AND pop culture AND whining small town white boys who have no reason toYou have to really, really love music AND rock AND heavy metal and hair bands AND pop culture AND whining small town white boys who have no reason to be angry except that they are whining white boys that lived in a small town.

As a music lover, a pop culture junkie and a nostalgic head-banger I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it was a third shorter but it was just filled with too much stuff that made me skip several pages at a time. Perfect example, where he listed the music you had to pay him to stop playing and why. I was glazing over by the 8th one.... and just skipped the pages all together when he reached the 15th one.

Still like him, will still continue to read him but need to take him in smaller doses. ...more

Now I know why all social settings are described as "political" Playing to others moods and catering to needs of the stronger alpha male. Spinning infNow I know why all social settings are described as "political" Playing to others moods and catering to needs of the stronger alpha male. Spinning information and news to suit their needs. It all started with politics.

Roosevelt seemed like the bully in the friendship with Winston nipping at his heels striving to be taken seriously. But it's interesting how the "two most powerful men" were able to successfully take down the axis of power. Interestingly, it was Winston who saw the dangers of Hitler first and tried to pull in the US way before Pearl Harbor. And it was Winston who first saw the dangers of Stalin and tried to convince Roosevelt of his intentions. I wonder how things would have changed had Roosevelt lived long enough to see the end of WWII and the beginning of the Cold War or if he would have continued to ignore Churchill's feelings about Stalin.

I think I need to read another historical book that highlights Roosevelt's family life since this one was more about his friendship with Winston. It only talked a little about his affair with Lucy, his illness and his family. Roosevelt didn't seem like a nice man, closed off, a bit selfish, manipulative and a bully - the makings of a great leader. Maybe another book about Winston that doesn't show him as submissive as he was in this book. ...more

Anyone who questions the reasoning that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, needs to read this book. Despite her lossAnyone who questions the reasoning that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, needs to read this book. Despite her loss and heartache you almost feel a bit of envy to realize that she spent over 40 years with her soul mate, more than most people get. Together they lived a life of travel, experiences and love surrounded by friends and family.

You can visualize the thought process that Joan goes through as she survives the first year of losing her husband. Everything from reliving her past to determine what twist of fate could have prolonged her husband's death to reading journals and articles to better understand exactly what happened and that it wasn't her fault. And then to deal with her daughter's illness in the same year is a true testament to how strong and resilient a person can be.

This powerful book is Didion's attempt to make sense of the "weeks and then months that cut loose any fixed idea I ever had about death, about illness...about marriage and children and memory...about the shallowness of sanity, about life itself."...more

I was inspired on how we kept plundering on with no idea what he was doing; just putting himself out there and learning along the way to keep a promisI was inspired on how we kept plundering on with no idea what he was doing; just putting himself out there and learning along the way to keep a promise and fulfill his dream to help build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The first thing he learned... "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die."

More importantly is his message on how to fight terrorism - not with war but with education. A strong message especially since he was there on 9/11. Kind of like what might work here..... hmmmm.

There are rumors now about how the money was mishandled and that he lied about events he talked about in the book. Not sure what I believe but does it matter how he built the schools and why just as long as he built them?...more

She wrote this in third person yet it is about her experiences living with a family in Kabul after 9/11. She tells the story of a bookseller who thinkShe wrote this in third person yet it is about her experiences living with a family in Kabul after 9/11. She tells the story of a bookseller who thinks progress is great and women should be out in society, in school and wearing something other than the burka as long as it's not his family. He has no problem over-charging people for postcards of pictures that he used without permission and copying books for resale yet when his underpaid carpenter steals postcards from him to feed his family he insists that he is thrown in jail for years leaving his family to die without him

She writes as if she likes the man and the family but how can she? The man is the king of the house with two wives and several kids. What he says goes, there is no discussion, no debate no alternate solution. If he wants a daughter to stay home and do nothing but cook, she does. If he want his son to work 6 -18 hour days he does. If he wants to send a nephew away never to return, he's gone. Anyone speaks up they are sent away to.

She lived with the family for three months yet speaks as if she was a fly on the wall for several years. With only three people in the family speaking English I wonder how she could possible know all that she wrote and I think she may be overgeneralizing a bit.

But put that aside and you get an interesting look into traditions, life in Afghanistan and how families live. ...more

Besides, my dad looking at me funny when he saw the title, this was a great book. The author stressed that everything she wrote in quotes came from anBesides, my dad looking at me funny when he saw the title, this was a great book. The author stressed that everything she wrote in quotes came from an actual source. With pictures showing who she was talking about and her general way of writing this was a great non-fiction book that was told in such a way that I was both entertained and educated.

Think I need to read Devil in a White Dress soon to continue on my Chicago path and then need some books that take place in Detroit to add to my Middlesex Group

For those that were paying attention, it took me a while to read this. Slow beginning but once you get started it was easy to continue. Historical nonFor those that were paying attention, it took me a while to read this. Slow beginning but once you get started it was easy to continue. Historical non-fiction that talks about the invention of the wireless and how it was thrusted into the limelight with a cross Atlantic murder. Two plots in the beginning that merged into one 2/3 of the way thru. Tons of research made apparent by the index and bibliography in the back. Gave me an understanding or Marconi his life and his invention.

I actually thought this was fiction. It wasn't until I noticed the black and white photos in the middle of the book that I realized that this actuallyI actually thought this was fiction. It wasn't until I noticed the black and white photos in the middle of the book that I realized that this actually happened. It is written like a Grisham fiction book and it's amazing how in depth he gets with the people and the events that took place, especially since he didn't make it up. He had to talk to everyone before writing it down.

I can't believe how many people had the chance to help these innocent men stay out of jail and just let it slip from their fingers, taking it for granted that they were guilty.

I just have to say that I kept flipping to the dustjackets to re-read that this is a TRUE story. I couldn't believe all the stuff I was reading.

That bI just have to say that I kept flipping to the dustjackets to re-read that this is a TRUE story. I couldn't believe all the stuff I was reading.

That being said, I can name two people off the top of my head that are psychiatrists and are probably more messed up than their patients. I think you have to be a bit off to deal with everyone's problems.

Let see, I think he was so obsessed with hair because it was something he could control unlike the rest of his life. He could make it blonde or orange he could make it look perfect like a Ken doll. And he was so obsessed with everyone else's hair because again it was the only thing he could control about everyone else.

And apparently this person never heard of Robert Frost when he said no one knows poets.

I did liked the book and I plan on looking at his other books and articles. If this was a fiction book it would bug me to not know what happened after he decided to move to New York but since it's a memoir I guess I can figure it out! :)...more

Before I forget, did anyone else notice that the book was dedicated to Harper Lee?

So did the crime fit the punishment? Which character is worse? PerryBefore I forget, did anyone else notice that the book was dedicated to Harper Lee?

So did the crime fit the punishment? Which character is worse? Perry who had an awful, disgusting childhood, was beaten, usually homeless, abused and treated like a "slave" but, according to him, killed 4 innocent people. Or Dick who had a standard childhood came from a good and strict family, played sports in high school, met the women of his dreams and married her. He didn't kill the family but he did instigate the crime and encouraged Perry to play it out until the end. Did they both deserve to die? Is Perry the worst of the two because he committed the actual murders or was Dick because there isn't any excuse to explain his life of crime? Is Perry better because he prevented Dick from committing rape before he shot Nancy's head off? (Don't mean to be crude but you get the idea) I'm curious to know what everyone thinks.

I liked how Capote started the book before the murders occurred. You were able to see how everyone was living and you could see the difference in people's attitude from the day before, to the day after the crime. One moment they looked after their neighbors, the next moment they were looking at them sideways trying to see if they were guilty. And I like how he wrote from the cop's point of view in the beginning (Nancy's purse in the hallway, her watch in the shoe, why the son looked like he did before he was shot) and then how Perry filled in the holes at the end. The only thing that made me question things was that is was so exact. Three months went by (or was it more) and he remembered everything right down to the emotions he felt when he was scurrying for the silver dollar that fell out of the purse. I have a good memory but lets face it, do you know any man who can remember the details that Perry did? How Dick was able to recite from memory the stores that he passed bad checks?

I was also surprised that the daughters weren't mentioned after the hurried wedding ceremony. And I don't understand why she felt the need to get married the week of her family's death, right after the funeral. I would have waited. But of course now-a-days people would just live together while they wait for a better time to get married. I guess they couldn't do that back then :) No one but the mother's brother showed up for the trial. And he asked for people to forgive the killers and let them have life in prison instead of death. I wonder how the other family members felt.

While I was exploring the site http://204.171.50.133/vhs/capotelesso... they had a "Six Degrees of Capote" area. This had emails from those that either knew the victims, the criminal or the city where they were from. There wasn't a lot but it was really interesting to read some of those. I think with a bit more exploring we could find other sites like that, that include witnesses' recaps of the incident. It did bother me to learn how writing about this affected Capote the way it did. How he felt bad for the killers who had hoped that he could save them. Did Truman ever say if he was for or against capital punishment? You can't tell from the book which shows what a great author he is, no biased opinions at all even though he talked with the killers and the victims for over 6 years.

And no I won't be renting this movie I don't need to be reminded that sometimes you are just at the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time....more